Implantable vital sign sensor

Abstract

An implantable vital sign sensor including a housing including a first portion, the first portion defining a first open end, a second open end opposite the first end, and a lumen there through, the first portion being sized to be implanted substantially entirely within the blood vessel wall of the patient. A sensor module configured to measure a blood vessel blood pressure waveform is included, the sensor module having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being insertable within the lumen and the proximal portion extending outward from the first open end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable device for a patient having a blood vessel with a blood vessel wall, comprising:
 a sensor mounting, the sensor mounting being sized and configured to at least partially contour the wall of the blood vessel and to receive and retain a sensor module, the sensor mounting including a platform, the platform defining an aperture sized to receive a portion of the sensor module; and   a sensor mounting retaining element coupled to the sensor mounting, the sensor mounting retaining element being configured to wrap and flex around at least a portion the blood vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform defines a substantially planar surface. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor mounting retaining element includes a plurality of connected and spaced apart links. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of connected and spaced apart links include at least one elastic strip connected through each of the plurality of connected and spaced apart links and configured to connect the plurality of links together. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of connected and spaced apart links are bioabsorbable. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of connected and spaced apart links includes a first end link and a second end link, and wherein the sensor mounting includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first end link is configured to couple to the first side of the sensor mounting and the second end link is configured to couple to the second side of the sensor mounting. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor mounting includes a first channel on the first side of the sensor mounting and a second channel on the second side of the sensor mounting, and wherein the first end link is configured to lock within the first channel and the second end link is configured to lock within the second channel. 
     
     
         8 . An implantable device for a patient having a blood vessel with a blood vessel wall, comprising:
 a sensor mounting, the sensor mounting being sized and configured to at least partially contour the wall of the blood vessel, the sensor mounting includes a platform defining an aperture;   a sensor module sized to be received with the aperture, the sensor module including having at least one sensor to measure at least one patient vital sign, the sensor mounting being configured to receive and retain the sensor module; and   a plurality of connected and spaced apart links coupled to the sensor mounting, the plurality of connected and spaced apart links being configured to wrap around the blood vessel and to maintain the position of the sensor module with respect to the blood vessel during pulsatile movements of the blood vessel.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the platform defines a recess around the aperture, and wherein the second portion of the housing is sized to be received within the recess and when the second portion of the housing is received within the recess, the second portion and the platform are substantially co-planar. 
     
     
         10 . An implantable device for a patient having a blood vessel with a blood vessel wall, comprising:
 a sensor mounting, the sensor mounting being sized and configured to at least partially contour the wall of the blood vessel and to receive and retain a sensor module configured to measure pressure changes within blood vessel; and   a flexible sensor mounting retaining element coupled to the sensor mounting, the sensor mounting retaining element being configured to wrap around at least a portion the blood vessel and to maintain the position of the sensor module with respect to the blood vessel during pulsatile movements of the blood vessel.